Friends give late Iron Butterfly bassist a rollicking tribute

Martin Gerschwitz performs in tribute to his friend and Iron Butterfly bandmate Lee Dorman, who can be seen in younger days in the photo behind Gerschwitz. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

When "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" started, a man seated near the band closed his eyes, grabbed two red straws and beat them against his table at Hennessey's Tavern in Dana Point.

Martin Gerschwitz, lead singer and keyboard player for Iron Butterfly, led friends and local musicians in playing the psychedelic rock band's signature song for more than 25 minutes Thursday night in honor of their friend, Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman, who died Dec. 21 of natural causes. The Laguna Niguel resident was 70.

"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" occupied the Billboard charts for 81 weeks after its release in 1968. Dorman was a member of the lineup that recorded the song, and he was playing with Iron Butterfly when it toured Europe last February and March.

"Somebody scream!" Gerschwitz yelled to the crowd Thursday, shaking his shaggy brown locks back and forth. And many did, clapping in unison during David Demeter's drum solo.

Jimmy Noonan of Anaheim, a friend of Gerschwitz, drove down to show his support. He said it's possible that Iron Butterfly and Dorman's bass work paved the way for heavy metal.

"I know he had a very unusual technique for playing the bass," Noonan said. "Kind of a revolutionary style where he could lay down a really heavy bass beat but somehow the rest of the music would still survive in the midst of it."

Jeff Werner of Laguna Niguel said he remembered buying the "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" album when he was 13.

"I remember Iron Butterfly back in 1968 when that album came out ... that was a great music event," Werner said. "They were revolutionary with that heavy sound. It had never happened before. There was an explosion of that type of music, and they were just on the front end."

Brandon Romo, manager of Hennessey's, said Dorman was a fixture at the pub for more than 20 years. He called the tribute show "an honor" for the tavern.

"I talked to him all the time," Romo said. "We'll miss his music and just the way he was."

Gerschwitz, of Laguna Niguel, said he and Dorman met at Hennessey's in 2000 and "became instant friends." "Ultimately it led to me being a part of Iron Butterfly" in 2005, Gerschwitz said.

Gerschwitz and his band played many covers of '60s and '70s hits throughout the night Thursday.

"I just personally wanted to do a tribute because Lee was my friend for a long time and we were in the band together for eight years," Gerschwitz said. "I chose this location ... because it was his local hangout and my local hangout. He was a part of jam night, and everybody knows him and misses him."

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Martin Gerschwitz performs in tribute to his friend and Iron Butterfly bandmate Lee Dorman, who can be seen in younger days in the photo behind Gerschwitz. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Martin Gerschwitz and a band of local musicians plays a tribute concert at Hennessey's Tavern in Dana Point to honor late Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A photo of Lee Dorman hangs behind the stage Thursday night at Hennessey's in Dana Point. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mike Reinhold enjoys the music during Thursday night's tribute to Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A band led by Iron Butterfly singer and keyboardist Martin Gerschwitz plays a tribute concert at Hennessey's Tavern in Dana Point in honor of Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman, a Laguna Niguel resident who died last week. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Justin Perez holds a ticket from an Iron Butterfly concert in 1997, when he last heard late bassist Lee Gorman play. Perez attended a memorial concert for Dorman on Thursday night at Hennessey's Tavern in Dana Point. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Keston Barker plays "The Star-Spangled Banner" with his tongue, to the amusement of the audience gathered at Hennessey's Tavern for a tribute concert to late Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Guests at Hennessey's Tavern give an ovation for Keston Barker's rendition of the national anthem. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Melissa Lee Diehl sings Adele's "Someone Like You" at Hennessey's Tavern on Thursday night during a concert to honor late Iron Butterfly bass player Lee Dorman. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A photo of Lee Dorman (on the left) hangs behind Iron Butterfly singer and keyboardist Martin Gerschwitz at a tribute to Dorman at Hennessey's Tavern in Dana Point. ROD VEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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